23
It was a starless sky, overcast, nothing to illuminate their way as they plodded across the fields, the burning pub far behind them now.
A voice out of the darkness pulled the two boys up sharp as they scaled the backyard wall of the public house. They’d run out of the bar as soon as the place had gone up, a great ball of flame leaping out to engulf almost the entire room in an instant. As they managed to scramble outside, an enormous explosion followed, blowing them forwards, flattening them both face down in the earth.
“What the hell was that?” gasped Richard, pulling himself to his feet, reaching down to take Brian’s hand.
“God knows. Gas, oil? Who cares?” He stood up, wiping his face with the back of his hand, nodding towards the wall. “Let’s get the hell out of here!”
As they
